Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Army's victory in the April Battles.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that starting from mid-March 2016, Armenian forces repeatedly violated the ceasefire regime. Beginning on the night of April 1-2, Azerbaijani positions and residential settlements along the entire front line were subjected to intensive enemy fire.
The April Battles became the most intense military operations since the 1994 ceasefire agreement. The clashes resulted in a decisive victory for the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, leading to the liberation of strategic heights around the village of Talish and the village of Seysulan in the Tartar district, the Leletepe height and Jojug Marjanli village in the Jabrayil district, and the village of Gulustan in the Goranboy district. Furthermore, roads in the direction of Gazakhlar and Madagiz in the Tartar district were cleared of enemy forces.
As a result of the shelling of residential areas near the line of contact by Armenian forces, six civilians were killed, including two children under the age of 16, and 26 others were seriously injured. During the operations, Azerbaijani forces destroyed 30 Armenian tanks, up to 15 artillery pieces, and reinforced engineering structures. The enemy suffered significant losses, with 320 personnel killed and over 500 wounded.
Following four days of intense fighting, a ceasefire was reinstated on April 5 with the consent of both parties and under the observation of international organizations. In total, more than 2,000 hectares of territory were liberated from Armenian occupation, with even larger areas coming under the operational control of the Azerbaijani military. On April 19, 2016, President Ilham Aliyev signed decrees awarding high state honors to members of the Armed Forces, including the title of "National Hero of Azerbaijan" to three servicemen.
The April Battles are considered a turning point in the Garabagh conflict, demonstrating the high combat readiness and modern capabilities of the Azerbaijan Army. This military success paved the way for the restoration of the village of Jojug Marjanli, marking the beginning of the "Great Return" process to the liberated territories. The victory in 2016 is widely viewed by military analysts as a precursor to the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020, which resulted in the full restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.
